Down payment made for “San Antonio Days” at Shanghai Expo

San Antonio contributors took a step Monday toward securing three “San Antonio Days” in May during the Shanghai Expo world’s fair by forwarding a $200,000 down payment to be applied to the cost of the U.S. Pavilion.

The balance of the $500,000 pledge must be paid by May 1, said Norma Denham, a special project coordinator for City Council member Elisa Chan.

May 1 is the start of the six-month run of China’s Shanghai Expo, expected to draw more than 70 million visitors. The three “San Antonio Days” are scheduled for May 25-27.

By finishing the payment, San Antonio companies and other contributors also would have two weeks of signs and video presentations at the $61 million U.S. Pavilion. During “San Antonio Days,” contributors would have use of the U.S. Pavilion’s VIP rooms.

The money is being raised primarily from the private sector by Chan and former Mayor Henry Cisneros. Eight contributors, including Port San Antonio, Bexar County and BioMed SA, made the down payment possible, Denham said.

Chan and Cisneros are working with San Antonio lawyer Jose Villarreal, who was appointed last year by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the U.S. commissioner general for the Shanghai Expo.